BLACK KING
Earth-92131
Real Name: Sebastian Shaw
Identity/Class: Alternate Earth (Earth-92131) human mutant
Occupation: Businessman
Group Membership: None;
formerly Genoshan Council (Banshee/Sean Cassidy, Callisto, Nightcrawler/Kurt Wagner, Madelyne Pryor, Moira MacTaggert, White Queen/Emma Frost), the Inner Circle of the Circle Club (Black Bishop/Harry Leland, Mastermind/Jason Wyngarde, White Bishop/Donald Pierce, White Queen/Emma Frost)
Affiliations: Circle guards, Valerie Cooper, Magneto (Erik Lehnsherr);
formerly Phoenix Force
Enemies: Operation Zero Tolerance (Bastion/Sebastion Gilberti, Mastermold, Mister Sinister/Nathaniel Essex), Phoenix Force, X-Men (Beast/Hank McCoy, Cyclops/Scott Summers, Gambit/Remy LeBeau, Jean Grey, Professor X/Charles Xavier, Storm/Ororo Munroe, Wolverine/Logan)
Known Relatives: None
Aliases: None
Base of Operations: Hammer Bay, Genosha (place of death);
formerly Circle Club, New York City
First Appearance: X-Men: The Animated Series cartoon - "The Phoenix Saga - Part IV: The Starjammers" (September 8, 1994)
Powers/Abilities: Sebastian Shaw is a mutant with the ability to absorb kinetic and thermal energy and convert it into superhuman strength, speed, and durability. This allows him to grow more powerful as he takes physical hits, effectively rendering him nearly invulnerable in combat. Shaw can withstand and recover from injuries that would be fatal to ordinary humans, and his enhanced physical abilities make him a formidable hand-to-hand combatant. His power also grants him increased resilience to extreme temperatures and various forms of energy attacks.
Height: 6'2" (presumably same as his 616 counterpart)
Weight: 210 lbs. (presumably same as his 616 counterpart)
Eyes: Blue
Hair: Black
History:
(X-Men: The Animated Series cartoon - "Dark Phoenix - Part I: Dazzled" - BTS) - Joining the prestigious Circle Club, a society for the ultrarich, Sebastian Shaw was the leader of its Inner Circle. This already influential cabal worked to gain even more power through various less than legal ways. Using the moniker of Black King, Shaw worked alongside Black Bishop (Harry Leland), White Bishop (Donald Pierce), Mastermind (Jason Wyngarde) and the White Queen (Emma Frost).
(X-Men: The Animated Series cartoon - "Dark Phoenix - Part I: Dazzled" (fb) - BTS) - Shaw and other members of the Inner Circle sworn allegiances to the Circle Club and vowed to not turn on one another.
(X-Men: The Animated Series cartoon - "The Phoenix Saga - Part IV: The Starjammers") - Shaw, Emma Frost and Mastermind were about to have a meeting when the White Queen was hit by the psychic backlash as the Phoenix left Earth to rescue the galaxy from Shi'ar emperor D'Ken. Other powerful beings that sensed the Phoenix departure were Doctor Strange and Captain Britain.
(X-Men: The Animated Series cartoon - "Dark Phoenix - Part I: Dazzled" - BTS) - Eager to know more about the Phoenix, Frost successfully infiltrated Xavier's computer learning that the primordial force inhabited the body of the X-Man Jean Grey. Frost believed it was well within her reach to obtain such a source of limitless power to be used by the Hellfire Club all while furthering her own position within the Inner Circle. Together with the illusion caster Jason Wyngarde she prepared a plan to achieve their goal.
(X-Men: The Animated Series cartoon - "Dark Phoenix - Part I: Dazzled") - Sebastian Shaw and Harry Leland spoke with Donald Pierce who'd failed to recruit the mutant Dazzler, the duo mocked the human cyborg until Frost and Wyngarde entered the room to inform the Inner Circle of their plan to get the powerful Phoenix under their control. Intrigued by their proposal, Circle's leader Sebastian Shaw asked how they would achieve such a feat, prompting Wyngarde to explain that the Phoenix was only as strong as the mind that controlled her, as he would attack her mind. Their plans were approved by the Black King.
That very evening Shaw and the others watched as Frost and Wyngarde worked together as Frost used her telepathic abilities to infiltrate Jean's fragile mind while she was asleep. This allowed Wyngarde to use his power of illusion to create an elaborate 18th century reality in Jean's mind. Plunged into this new reality, Jean believed she was rescued out in the open ocean by the charismatic Jason Wyngarde with whom she then kissed. Sensing someone began to intrude in Jean's mind (Jean and Scott's psychic rapport), Frost quickly cut the connection less their plan fail.
(X-Men: The Animated Series cartoon - "Dark Phoenix - Part I: Dazzled" - BTS) - Frost and Wyngarde successfully to locate Jean Grey in a New York club where Cyclops watched the mutant Dazzler perform. Wyngarde managed to get Grey under his full control after which they brought her back to the Circle Club while two of their guards dealt with Cyclops.
(X-Men: The Animated Series cartoon - "Dark Phoenix - Part I: Dazzled") - Determined to permanently bind the Phoenix Force to the Circle Club, a fake wedding was staged, with Shaw acting as the officiant and solemnizing the ceremony. Moments later, the full force of the X-Men arrived to save their friend, leading to an all-out battle between the mutants. Unimpressed by the mutant heroes, Shaw convinced the powerful Rogue to hit him. Absorbing the kinetic energy, he then easily punched her through the wall. Shaw then watched as Harry Leland used his abilities to plummet Wolverine down to the Club's sewers. The Inner Circle's leader was then hit by Cyclops' optic blast. Unfazed, Shaw punched Cyclops in the face, only to be struck from behind by Storm, who used her arctic winds to encase Shaw in a block of ice. In the end the X-Men were defeated by their own Jean who was now fully under Wyngarde's influence. Both the Inner Circle and the X-Men failed to realize that the Phoenix Force inhabiting Jean's body was thoroughly enjoying all new sensations and was hungry for more.
(X-Men: The Animated Series cartoon - "Dark Phoenix - Part II: The Inner Circle" - BTS) - With the X-Men (with exception of Wolverine) defeated the Inner Circle had them outfitted with power-dampening collars to prevent them from using their mutant abilities.
(X-Men: The Animated Series cartoon - "Dark Phoenix - Part II: The Inner Circle") - While Frost used her telepathic abilities to keep Xavier at bay, Shaw and the Inner Circle celebrated their victory while enjoying diner and wine until Frost sensed Cyclops using his psychic rapport with Jean and quickly warned Wyngarde to intervene.
Wyngarde fought Cyclops in his mindscape until the Phoenix appeared. Aching for new sensations and destruction, Cyclops was seemingly killed but when his body was still alive Frost went to check on the X-Man and found him still psychically connected to Jean Grey. Having had enough of the ordeal, Sebastian Shaw ordered the Phoenix to destroy her friends. Still struggling in her own psyche, the Phoenix Force took full control of Jean's body. However, before the Phoenix could follow Shaw's orders, Wolverine suddenly arrived and was struck down by the Phoenix. While Wolverine was down, Wyngarde boosted himself, determined his actions warranted his ascension to become the Inner Circle's new leader. Enraged, Shaw scolded Wyngarde, however, Leland, Pierce and Frost all turned against Shaw. Feeling betrayed, Shaw vowed to destroy all of them.
Preoccupied with each other, the Inner Circle failed to realize that Jean temporarily regained her senses and was horrified by her actions. Frost sensed that Wyngarde had lost his hold over Jean just before she was consumed by the Phoenix Force. Thirsty for power, Jean flew off through the building's ceiling. The Phoenix's departure freed the X-Men, who immediately attacked the Inner Circle. Gambit confronted Shaw, who easily absorbed his kinetically charged playing cards. Before Shaw could use his power to attack, Cyclops blasted a hole in the floor, causing Shaw to fall and land atop a dining table. Moments later, Beast jumped down, lifted Shaw into the air, and spun him around with his large feet. Despite this, Shaw was able to absorb the force and hurl Beast into a wall. Shaw was then stopped by Storm's arctic winds. Enraged, Shaw overcame the cold, threw Beast into the air to hit Storm out of the sky, and escaped into the Circle Club's secret tunnels.
(X-Men: The Animated Series cartoon - "Dark Phoenix - Part II: The Inner Circle" - BTS) - Assured he could still control Jean, Wyngarde followed Jean to the roof of the Circle Club. Wyngarde attempted to create another illusion but was struck down by Phoenix revealing that he had opened her eyes after which she shattered Wyngarde's illusion revealing his true identity of Mastermind. She then revealed to Mastermind who the Phoenix truly was, unable to comprehend all which he witnessed, Mastermind was rendered catatonic. She then transformed into the Dark Phoenix.
(X-Men: The Animated Series cartoon - "Dark Phoenix - Part III: The Dark Phoenix") - Sebastian Shaw, Emma Frost and Harry Leland stood outside of the Circle Club when they witnessed the ascension of the Dark Phoenix as she traveled into outer space where she destroyed an uninhabited star system. Others who sensed her departure included Doctor Strange, Thor and Uatu the Watcher.
(X-Men '97 I#4) - Having acquired the last will and testament of the seemingly deceased Charles Xavier, Frost and Shaw went to see and deliver the document to Magneto.
(X-Men '97: The Animated Series cartoon - "Remember It" - BTS) - Circle Club members Emma Frost and Sebastian Shaw were among a small group of people selected to join Genosha's Interim Council to help lead the island nation which had become a mutant paradise. Others included former monk Nightcrawler, former X-Man Madelyne Pryor (a clone of Jean Grey), mutant geneticist Moira MacTaggert and her mutant husband Banshee.
(X-Men '97: The Animated Series cartoon - "Remember It" (fb) - BTS) - Learning the United Nations would formally admit Genosha, the Interim Council decided they wanted the current leader of the X-Men, Magneto to become their first official Chancellor. The Interim Council extended an invitation to the X-Men to both attend their first prestigious Hellfire Gala and ask Magneto for their new position.
(X-Men '97: The Animated Series cartoon - "Remember It") - The streets of Hammer Bay were filled with festivities and laughter as Genosha celebrated joining the United Nations. The X-Men (Magneto, Gambit and Rogue) arrived to meet with Genosha's Interim Council. While Nightcrawler escorted Rogue and Gambit on a stroll through Hammer Bay, Magneto joined Valerie Cooper and Madelyne Pryor in discussions with the Interim Council. While holding his drink, Shaw welcomed Magneto and explained that Genosha had given mutantkind an unprecedented reality, with even the most overlooked of mutants finally getting a voice. This lead Frost to explain that Genosha needed a charismatic posterchild King to gain trust and respect for the new nation. Annoyed by her phrasing, mutant geneticist Moira MacTaggert voiced her discontent, prompting Frost to bluntly question the presence of a human on the council. Pryor defended Moira, reminding the council they had agreed on the title of Chancellor. Magneto accepted the role on the condition that Rogue would rule by his side, a position she later accepted as well.
(X-Men '97: The Animated Series cartoon - "Remember It") - That very night, Genosha hosted its first prestigious Hellfire Gala to celebrate mutant culture. Shaw and Frost arrived together, welcoming Magneto to the event. Valerie Cooper, uneasy about Magneto, a known mutant terrorist, serving as Genosha's Chancellor, approached Shaw, Frost, and Magneto, suggesting they assemble the Council for a discussion. Shaw reassured Cooper that Magneto had accepted the position only on the condition that Rogue, one of the X-Men, would govern alongside him. Moments later, Rogue arrived at the gala and invited Magneto to dance. The sight of Genosha's new Chancellor and his consort dancing together was quite the spectacle, amusing Shaw and Frost. However, during the gala Genosha was targeted by the techno-organic Sentinel hybrid Bastion who send a monstrous Mastermold to destroy and kill all mutants. As chaos ensued, Mastermold and its Sentinels rendered the island nation to rubble, murdering many mutants.
(X-Men '97: The Animated Series cartoon - "Bright Eyes") - Like many other mutants, Sebastian Shaw and Emma Frost was buried beneath the rubble when Mastermold's attack caused the buildings to collapse, trapping Shaw and Frost beneath the rubble.
(X-Men '97: The Animated Series cartoon - "Remember It") - While the onslaught went on, Shaw's body was recovered along those of Callisto, Dazzler and Moira MacTaggert while Frost remained buried alive beneath the rubble. In the end it was X-Man Gambit who sacrificed himself to successfully destroy Bastion's Mastermold.
Comments: Created by Chris Claremont and John Byrne.;
adapted by Mark Edens and AKOM Productions. (see Appearances list for full list of artists)
Sebastian Shaw was voiced by David Bryant in the original series, he was voiced by Todd Haberkorn in the new 2024 series. Haberkorn also voiced Ronan the Accuser in the same series.
It remains to be seen why Shaw, a mutant with the ability to absorb kinetic energy could die during the collapse of a building. But X-Men '97 writer Beau DeMayo confirmed his death.
In this reality, the Hellfire Club was named the Circle Club. Although unrevealed Hellfire presumably wasn't deemed appreciated for a children's cartoon show.
The Sentinel used in the attack on Genosha is generally referred to as either the Tri-Sentinel or a Wild Sentinel, however, the end credits of "Remember It" used Mastermold for it's name.
When, in 2015's Secret Wars, the Multiverse was destroyed following the incursions of planets it appeared as if Reality-92131 was drafted onto Battleworld as the Westchester domain. However, this has since been debunked. As such the reality seen in the two volumes of X-Men '92 (2015 and 2016-2017) now have their own reality-designation of Earth-15730. The X-Men '92: House of XCII (2022) series was inspired by both the animated series and Hickman's House of X run but is its own separate reality. The limited series X-Men '97 (2024), however, is Reality-92131 and bridges the gap between the original X-Men: The Animated Series cartoon and the new X-Men '97: The Animated Series cartoon.
Profile by MarvellousLuke
CLARIFICATIONS:
The Black King has no known connections to
images: (without ads)
Sebastian Shaw's model sheet by Amelia Vidal, lead character designer of X-Men '97 (main image)
X-Men: The Animated Series cartoon - "Dark Phoenix - Part I: Dazzled" (with Emma Frost)
X-Men: The Animated Series cartoon - "Dark Phoenix - Part I: Dazzled" (attacked by Cyclops)
X-Men: The Animated Series cartoon - "The Dark Phoenix Saga - Part II: Inner Circle" (spun round by Beast)
X-Men '97: The Animated Series cartoon - "Remember It" (part of Genosha's council)
X-Men '97: The Animated Series cartoon - "Remember It" (death)
Appearances:
X-Men: The Animated Series cartoon - "The Phoenix Saga - Part IV: The Starjammers" (September 8, 1994) - Mark Edens (writer), Frank Brunner, Mark Lewis (model design), Darrel Bowen, Russell Chong, Mark Lewis, Steve Olds, Frank Squillace (prop design), Cesar Magsombol, Frank Squillace, Wayne Schulz, Zhaoping Wei (layout design), Trish Mendelson (color key), Philip Kim, Dennis Venizelos (color backgrounds), Patrick Archibald, Francis Barrios, Romeo Francisco, Curt Geda, Greg Garcia, Adrian Gonzales, Rick Hoberg, Larry Houston, Jim Janes, Dough Murphy, Tom Nesbitt, Frank Squillace, Michael Swanigan, Dan Veesenmeyer (storyboards), AKOM Animation (animation), Sharon Janis (editor)
X-Men: The Animated Series cartoon - "Dark Phoenix - Part I: Dazzled" (November 12, 1994) - Jan Strand (writer), Bob Harras (story consultant), Frank Brunner, Mark Lewis (model design), Darrel Bowen, Russell Chong, Mark Lewis, Steve Olds, Frank Squillace (prop design), Cesar Magsombol, Frank Squillace, Wayne Schulz, Zhaoping Wei (layout design), Trish Mendelson (color key), Philip Kim, Dennis Venizelos (color backgrounds), Patrick Archibald, Francis Barrios, Romeo Francisco, Curt Geda, Greg Garcia, Adrian Gonzales, Rick Hoberg, Larry Houston, Jim Janes, Dough Murphy, Tom Nesbitt, Frank Squillace, Michael Swanigan, Dan Veesenmeyer (storyboards), Patricio Aganasin, Abel Laxamana, Mark Lewis, Romeo Lopez, Tec Manalac, Andre Nieves, Phil Stapleton (storyboard cleanup), Philippine Animation Studio, Inc. (animation), Sharon Janis (editor)
X-Men: The Animated Series cartoon - "Dark Phoenix - Part II: Inner Circle" (November 12, 1994) - Steven Levi (writer), Bob Harras (story consultant), Frank Brunner, Mark Lewis (model design), Darrel Bowen, Russell Chong, Mark Lewis, Steve Olds, Frank Squillace (prop design), Cesar Magsombol, Frank Squillace, Wayne Schulz, Zhaoping Wei (layout design), Trish Mendelson (color key), Philip Kim, Dennis Venizelos (color backgrounds), Patrick Archibald, Francis Barrios, Romeo Francisco, Curt Geda, Greg Garcia, Adrian Gonzales, Rick Hoberg, Larry Houston, Jim Janes, Dough Murphy, Tom Nesbitt, Frank Squillace, Michael Swanigan, Dan Veesenmeyer (storyboards), Patricio Aganasin, Abel Laxamana, Mark Lewis, Romeo Lopez, Tec Manalac, Andre Nieves, Phil Stapleton (storyboard cleanup), Philippine Animation Studio, Inc. (animation), Sharon Janis (editor)
X-Men: The Animated Series cartoon - "The Dark Phoenix - Part III: The Dark Phoenix" (November 19, 1994) - Larry Parr (writer), Frank Brunner, Mark Lewis (model design), Darrel Bowen, Russell Chong, Mark Lewis, Steve Olds, Frank Squillace (prop design), Cesar Magsombol, Frank Squillace, Wayne Schulz, Zhaoping Wei (layout design), Trish Mendelson (color key), Philip Kim, Dennis Venizelos (color backgrounds), Patrick Archibald, Francis Barrios, Romeo Francisco, Curt Geda, Greg Garcia, Adrian Gonzales, Rick Hoberg, Larry Houston, Jim Janes, Dough Murphy, Tom Nesbitt, Frank Squillace, Michael Swanigan, Dan Veesenmeyer (storyboards), Patricio Aganasin, Abel Laxamana, Mark Lewis, Romeo Lopez, Tec Manalac, Andre Nieves, Phil Stapleton (storyboard cleanup), Philippine Animation Studio, Inc. (animation), Sharon Janis (editor)
X-Men '97: The Animated Series cartoon - "Remember It" (April 10, 2024) - Beau DeMayo (writer), Emi Yonemura (director), Roger Oda (art director), Cassey Kuo (assistant director), Naseer Pasha (animation lead), Marisa Ledina, Jarret Ballard, Anthony Martin, Russell McCoy (composite artists), Marty Walker (lead retake animator), John Berry, Fabian Corona, Allister Jones, Daisy Schofield (retake animators), Walter Kim, Derek Kosol, Mark Taihei, Adri Torres (prop designers), Sofia Alexander, David D. Au, Jay Baker, Matthew Bordenave, Jalin Harden, Kaela Lash, Aleks Sennwald, Sam Tung (storyboard artists), Justin Brown, Amber Blade Jones, Jordan Willis (storyboard revisionists), Marvel Studios (animation), Beau DeMayo, Victoria Alonso, Louis D'Esposito, Kevin Feige, Brad Winderbaum (executive producer), Dana Vasquez-Eberhard (co-executive producter)
X-Men '97: The Animated Series cartoon - "Bright Eyes" (April 24, 2024) - Charley Feldman and JB Ballard (writers), Emi-Emmett Yonemura (director), Roger Oda (art director), David D. Au, Cassey Kuo (assistant director), Naseer Pasha (animation lead), Jarret Ballard, Christopher Graybill, Hilda Karadsheh, Marisa Ledina, Anthony Martin, Russell McCoy, David Miller III (composite artists), Marty Walker (lead retake animator), John Berry, Fabian Corona, Allister Jones, Chayadoll Lomtong, Daisy Schofield, Travis Simon (retake animators), Walter Kim, Derek Kosol, Mark Taihei, Adri Torres (prop designers), Sofia Alexander, Jay Baker, Matthew Bordenave, Marvin Britt, Jalin Harden, Kaela Lash, Marvin Madrid, Doug Murphy, Aleks Sennwald, Sam Tung (storyboard artists), Justin Brown, Amber Blade Jones, Jordan Willis (storyboard revisionists), Marvel Studios (animation), Beau DeMayo, Victoria Alonso, Louis D'Esposito, Kevin Feige, Brad Winderbaum (executive producer), Dana Vasquez-Eberhard (co-executive producter)
X-Men '97 I#4 (June, 2024) - Steve Fox (writer), Salvador Espin (pencils, inks), Jordan D. White (editor)
First Posted: 06/30/2024
Last Updated: 07/03/2024
Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.
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